From Seattle to Asian Games: University Duo Shares Global Sports Journey

This year, the Seattle University (SU) men's basketball team, the Redhawks, will kick off their season with an away game against the University of Hawai’i’s Rainbow Warriors on November 2. However, two of their key players, Junseok Yeo and Yuto Kawashima, have already had an active summer representing their respective national teams at the Asian Games, an event held every four years in autumn.

Junseok Yeo, a 6’8” player for the Redhawks, was chosen to be a member of the South Korean national team. He spent July through September training with them, returning to Seattle for just two weeks in the summer to meet his new SU teammates. During the Asian Games, held in Nagoya, Japan, Yeo sustained a foot injury in the first game. Although he initially tried to play through it, he ultimately decided to rest, sitting out two games before returning to play the remainder of the tournament. Upon his return, Yeo noted that his foot was feeling much better. The South Korean team navigated a tough tournament, defeating Iran in the semifinals. They then went on to win the gold medal by beating Japan 67-57, a victory that brought immense joy to Yeo and, as an added benefit, granted the South Korean players a governmental exemption from mandatory military duty.

Reflecting on his previous season, Yeo, who transferred from Gonzaga University in 2024, played in all 34 games for the Redhawks, averaging almost 31 minutes, 12 points, and 4 boards. He hopes to achieve greater consistency in his senior season, aiming to be a player the coaches can trust. His return to Spokane to play against his old college team felt